Out of the Whirlwind

The Revd Dr Sue Boorer

The problem of innocent suffering is often the most significant sticking point in the life of faith and the reason for many not to believe in God.

Famously, Stephen Fry, a declared atheist, when asked in 2015 what he would say to God if he happened to get to the pearly gates, said “I’ll say…How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault’…Why should I respect a…God who creates a world which is so full of injustice and pain?”

It is this very issue of innocent suffering that the book of Job seeks to address. In particular, it struggles with how to speak about, and to, God in the face of innocent suffering. It constantly asks the question, who might God be in the face of innocent suffering and how might we address this God in prayer.

Job is set up from the beginning as totally righteous and innocent and yet he loses everything - his possessions, children and health. He sits on his ash heap trying to make sense of this in relation to God and is ‘counselled’ by his so-called friends.

During the course of this long and complex book, whose poetry reaches great heights, various perspectives are given - by Job, Job’s friends, and God. Moreover, the poetry is ambiguous and often open to multiple interpretations. Thereby this text asks the reader to struggle for themselves with these perspectives and interpretations in an attempt to come to their own conclusions. That is, as wisdom literature it reads the reader. In gravitating to particular perspectives or interpretations the text reflects back to the reader how they are perceiving life at present whilst at the same time offering other interpretations and perspectives for the reader to think about. In this way it seeks to perhaps broaden the horizons of the reader, and ultimately leads them into mystery.

At Wollaston, on 18 June, there will be an “exploring theology day” where you will be invited to explore the various perspectives on God and the problem of innocent suffering as contained in the book of Job. These will be teased out, as we listen to excerpts from the characters’ poetic speeches.

Along the way other issues will arise. These include:

• how to pastorally care for innocent sufferers or not - what traps might we fall into in seeking to care for one who is suffering?
• What might prayer look like from the depths of suffering and how truly honest do we dare to be with God?

The day runs from 10.00am - 3.30pm with lunch provided from 12.30pm - 1.30pm. Register on the Wollaston Theological College website, or email info@wollaston.edu.au.

Published in Messenger June 2026